Engine-cooling system



arch 22, 1927.. 21355 5. V. RUSHMOIRE ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM Filed Oct. 9. 1924 INVENTOR Jamaal W fluslzmm ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 22, 1927.

UNITED STATES SAMUEL W. BUSHMORE, OF PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY.

ENGINE-COOLING SYSTEM.

Application filed October 8, 1924. Serial No. 742,638.

present invention relates to improvements in engine cooling systems of the general type disclosed in my prior Patent No. 1,378,724, of May 17, 1921, and is concerned particularly with means for malntaining such a system adequately and automatically supplied with water under all normal working conditions.

In cooling systems of thistype the water circulation from the cooling jacket of the engine is short-circuited through the lower chamber of an air cooled radiator below the cooling tubes or honeycomb thereof so that the latter operates as an up-flow condenser. Proper and substantially constant boiling temperatures are maintained because there is very little cooling of the water until the boiling point is reached and evolution of steam in the lower tank, causes up-flow of the steam into the restricted passages in the honeycomb of the radiator, where it condensed and flows down to the lower tank at practically the same temperature as the water from which it was boiled off.

It is quite desirable to maintain the water level in the lower tank of the radiator at a level-some distance below the lower ends of the up-flow steam pipes, since such water is usually in a turbulent and boiling condition and likely to be forced up into the condensing passages and interfere with the correct functioning of the system.

It is highly desirable to have this water tank of relatively small capacity, because space at the bottom of the commercial types of radiator (especially a truck radiator), is quite limited because they are primarily designed for cooling by down-flow circulation of water, and the lower tank is made as small as possible since it takes up space which is directly in the path of the cooling air and which theoretically should be devoted to cooling tube or honeycomb surface. Even when the radiator is specially designed for operation by my method, the latter reasons for making the lower tank small, are applicable and there is the further consideration that the smaller the amount of water being circulated, the quicker it will heat to boiling temperatures. The use of such small tank and small amount of water requires that the water supply must be carefully watched.

In addition to inconvenience of filling the radiator at frequent intervals, means commonly employed for indicating a low water level are highly unsatisfactory and inadequate. A water glass soon becomes cloudy or fouled by the rust and dirt in the water. Test cocks are objectionable, and furthermore neither cocks nor gauge glass will indicate properly unless the engine is running.

my present invention I render the hitherto undesirably restricted tank space an advantage rather than a nuisance, by provlding fool proof automatic means for supplying water in sufiicient quantities to maint'aln a substantially constant level in the tank, well below the air cooled condenser surfaces of the radiator, so that I am able to run an engine at capacity loads for long periods of time without danger from overheating in case of accidental leaks in the system.

These results are preferably accomplished by the use of a sealed auxiliary water supply tank having a depending outlet pipe terminating just below the desired water level in the radiator tank. This outlet pipe is of cross sectional area which will permit of the up-flow of steam or airtherethrough to displace a more or less corresponding volume of water which will flow down into the radiator pipe whenever the end of outlet pipe is uncovered by the Liquid level in the radiator tank falling below the predetermined level.

When the conditions are such that the upper part of the auxiliary tank contains steam or hot air, it will operate upon cooling, to suck back water unless or until the 0 en end of the outlet pipe is uncovered. his tends to standardize the water level, particularly when the engine is stopped long enough to cool off.

The supply tank may be located near or remotefrom the radiator, preferably in the usually unoccupied space under the engine hood just behind the radiator.

An important feature of the invention is the means for automatically cutting ofi' communication between the supply tank and the radiator tank during the time that the supply tank is being filled. I thus prevent flooding the radiator and also permit filling without danger of scalding the hands by rising steam. The cut-oil is preferably under control of the supply tank filler cap and becomes operable whenever this cap is unscrewed.

' the accom The above and other features of my invention may be more fully understood from the following description in connection with n 111 side elevation zm nternal combustion engine em loying m cooling system, parts of the r 'ator an of the supply tank being broken away and-in section for clearness.

The hood 10 of the automotive vehicle 11 encloses an internal combustion engine which may include a crank case 12 mounted upon a bed frame 13 and supporting'cylinder blocks 14 the u per ends of which are enclosed by the usua water jacket 15. The radiator is of the general character disclosed in my above identified prior patent includingrigid side frames 16 mounting between them transversely extending u per and 'lower tanks 17, 18 of rather'smal capacity.

Connecting the tanks 17 and 18 there are relatively cross sectional area. ater is withdrawn from the lower tank 18 through a pipe 19 and delivered by a circulating pump 20 to the cooling jacket through a pipe 21. The circulating pump may .be conveniently driven from the usual shaft 22 which ordinarily carries the driving pulley 23 for the fan belt 24. The return pipe 25 from the water jacket dslllillvers steam and water into the lower t The construction as thus far described may be an entirely conventional embodiment of my patented steam cooling system, my present invention relating more particularly to the provision of water supply tank 27 in the'space behind the radiator and above the water level in tank 18. Tank 27 may be su ported in any convenient manner as on a bracket 28 bolted to crank case 12. An outlet pipe 29 of substantial cross sectional area leads from the bottom of tank 27 through the back of tank 18 and discharges just below the water level in the latter tank. The filler cap 30 for tank 27 may be rendered air tight in any suitable manner as by the use of rubber gaskets 31 or other appro riate sealing devices.

e outlet 32 in the lower ,end of the tank 27 is controlled by a heavy ball valve 33 carried b a valve stem 34 sliding vertically in a gui bracket 35 fixed to the wall of the tank. The upper end of the valve stem is pivotally connected to the end of the lon er arm of a lever 36 rocking interm iate its ends on a shaft 37 carried in a bifurcated bracket 38-. The end of the shorter arm of lever 36 is pivotall connectedwith an operating rod 40 gui ed for vertical movement in a spider 41 in the filler cap opening and held against the filler cap by the weighted valve 33. As the filler cap is unscrewed, the ball valve drops to seal the outlet from the tank and the rod 40 is drawing which shows in long, vertical air cooled steam condensing pipves 26 of restricted thrust upward. Replacement of the cap forces said rod downward and lifts the valve through lever 36 and stem 34.

For efficiency itis desirable that a gasoline engine be heated to working temperature as quickly as possible and this is accomplished by making the radiator tank of only suflicient capacity to insure'proper circulation to the jacket and thus keeping a minimum amount of .water in the system.

The reserve tank is large enough to assure that there will be no water shortage as long as it is full.

Considerable saving is elfected in the size and cost of the radiator which need be only capable of taking care of an average load on the en ine. The additional heat gen- .erated during the short and infre uent pe-.

reaches the top of the radiator, but when it is necessary to refill a radiator through the top, in the ordinary way, after working under heavy load, the escaping steam may cause eat inconvenience. By my present invention the system may be refilled through the reserve tank Without this danger or annoyance, and the water level in the reserve tank may be observed at any time.

' The reserve tank also serves as a surge or expansion chamber to provide an outlet for the excess water due to expansion.

\Vhile I have shown a relatively small auxiliar tank, located at the side of the engine, it will be evident that its association with the radiator is solely throu h pipe 29. Hence the same or a larger tan could be located elsewhere, as for instance, in the upper space X, which is just under the hood and behind the radiator.

I claim:

1. A cooling system operating by the boiling and condensing method, having a circulating system including a jacketed element to be cooled, a radiator having a lower water chamber below the level of the jacket element through which the cooling medium is short cir'cuited and a plurality of upflow condensing passages above said chamber, means for withdrawing water from the chamber and'delivering it to the jacket and means for returning the heated fluid to the chamber, in combination with means for maintaining a substantially constant water level in the water chamber.

2. A cooling system operating by the boiling an'd'condensing method, having a cir- -culating system including a jacketed element Hlll to be cooled, a radiator having a lower water chamber through which the cooling medium is short circuited and a plurality of upflow condensing passages above said chamber, means for withdrawing water from the chamber and delivering it to the jacket and means for returning the heated fluid to the chamber, in combination with a high level vacuum sustaining supply tank having an outlet normally water sealed and vented by rise and fall of water in the water chamber, thereby maintaining a substantially constant level thereof.

3. A cooling system operating by the boilin and condensing method, having a circu ating system including a jacketed element to be cooled, a radiator having a lower water chamber below the level of the jacket element through which the cooling medium is short circuited and a plurality of upflow condensing passages above said chamber, means for withdrawing water from the chamber and delivering it to the jacket and means for returning the heated fluid to the chamber, in combination with an auxiliary water supply tank operating automatically to maintain a constant water level in the chamber.

4. A coolin system operating by the boilin and con ensin method, having a circulating system including a jacketed element to be cooled, a radiator having a lower water chamber through which the cooling medium .is short circuited and a plurality of upflow condensing passages above said chamber, means for withdrawing water from the chamber and delivering it to the jacket and means for returning the heated fluid to the chamber, in combination with a sealed auxiliary supply tank above said chamber and having a discharge pipe terminating just below a desired water level in the circulating system.

5. A cooling system operating by the boiling and condensing method, having a circulating system including a jacketed element to be cooled, a radiator having a lower water chamber through which the cooling medium is short circuited and a plurality of upflow condensing passages above said chamber,

' means for withdrawing water from the chamber and delivering it to the jacket and means for returning the heated fluid to the chamber, in combination with a sealed auxil iary supply tank above said chamber and having a discharge pipe terminating just below a desired water level in the circulating system, said pipe being of sufficiently large cross section to permit upflow of air against down pressure of water therein when its discharge end is unsealed by decrease of water in said chamber.

6. A cooling system operating by the boilin and condensing method, having a circu ating system including a jacketed element to be cooled, a radiator having a lower water chamber through which the cooling medium is short circuited and a plurality of upflow condensing passages above said chamber, means for withdrawing water to maintain a constant water-level culating system including a jacketed element to be cooled, a radiator having alower wa ter chamber through which the cooling medium is short circuited and a plurality of upflow condensing passages above said chamber, means for withdrawing water from the chamber and delivering it to the jacket and means for returning the heated fluid to the chamber, in combination with a sealed auxiliary supply tank above said chamber having a discharge pipe terminating just be- .0

low a desired water level in the circulating system and acting as a surge tank to relieve pressures in the chamber.

8. A cooling system operating by the boiling and condensing method, having a circulating system including a jacketed element to be cooled, a radiator having a lower water chamber through which the cooling medium is short circuited and a plurality of upflow condensing passages above said chamber, means for withdrawing water from the chamber and delivering it to the jacket and means for returning the heated fluid to the chamber, in combination with a sealed auxiliary supply tank above said chamber and having a discharge pipe terminating just below a desired water level in the circulating system, a filler cap for the tank, a valve controlling the discharge pipe and open when the filler cap is in place.

9. A cooling system operating by the boiling and condensing method, having'a circulating system including a jacketed element to be cooled, a radiator having a lower water chamber through which the cooling medium is short circuited and a plurality of upflow condensing passages above said chamber, means for withdrawing water from the chamber and delivering it to the jacket and means for returning the heated fluid to the chamber, in combination with a sealed auxiliary supply tank above said chamber and having a discharge pipe terminating just below a desired water level in the circulating system, a filler cap for the tank, a valve controlling the discharge pipe and means for closing the valve when the cap is removed.

10. A cooling system operating by the boiling and condensing method, having a circulatory system including a jacketed element to be cooled, a radiator having a lower water chamber through which the cooling medium is short circuited and a plurality of u flow condensing passages above said cham 1', means for withdrawing water from the chamber and delivering it to the jacket and means for returning the heated fluid 0 the chamber, in combination with a storage and automatic supply tank of the class described including a sealed upper end, a discharge pipe having an outlet into the circulating system, a filler cap, and a valve for closing the discharge pipe under control of the filler cap.

11. A cooling system operatingl by boiling and condensing method, aving a circulating system including a jacketed element to be cooled, a radiator having a lower water chamber through which the cooling medium is short circuited and a plurality of upflow condensing passages above said chamber, means for withdrawing water from the chamber and delivering it to the jacket and means for returning the heated fluid to the chamber, in combination with a storage and automatic supply tank of the class described including a sealed upper end, a discharge pipe having an outlet into the circulating system, a ller cap, and a valve for closin the discharge pipe under control of the filer cap, said valve being held against its seat when the cap is off.

12. A cooling system operating by the boiling and condensing method, having a circulating system including a jacketed element to be cooled, a radiator having a lower water chamber through which the cooling medium is short-circuited and a plurality of llP-flOW condensing passages above said the chamber, means for withdrawing water from the chamber and delivering it to the jacket and means for returning the heated fluid to the chamber, in combination with a stora and automatic supply tank of the class escribed including a sealed upper end, a discharge pipe having an outlet into the circulating system, a filler cap, and a valve for closing the discharge pipe under control of the tiller cap, said valve being held against its seat when the cap is off and mechanically lifted off its seat by movement of the filler cap when the latter is screwed home. 13. A cooling system operating by the boiling and condensing method, having a circulating system including a jacketed element to be cooled a radiator having a lower water chamber through which the cooling medium is short-circuited and a plurality of up-flow condensing passages above said chamber, means for withdrawing water from the chamber and delivering it to the jacket and means for returning the heated fluid to the chamber, in combination with an elevated supply tank having an outlet discharging just below the desired level of the water in said chamber and a filling opening in its upper end, a valve for closing the discharge outlet, a rocking lever, a valve stem connected to the lever, an operatin rod engaged by the filler cap to rock the ever and lift the valve, said valve being weighted to close the opening when the filler cap is removed.

Signed at Plainfield, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, this 6th day of October, A. D. 1924.

SAMUEL W. RUSHMORE. 

